Wick or feeder for lubricators.



G. P. & B. M. SIMMONS.

WIGK 0R FEEDER FOR LUBRIGATORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1914.

1, 1 22,08? Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

Gear 8 Psi/771770175,

7N5 NORRIS PETERS CD PMnTa I ITHO WASHINGION D. C.

GEORGE P. SIMMONS ANDBERTHA M. SIMMONS, HERKIMER, NEW YORK.

WICK OR FEEDER FOR LUBRICATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent. 7

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

Original application filed January 31, 1912, Serial No. 674,456. Divided and this application filed March 30, 1914. Serial No. 828,261.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE P. SIMMONS and BERTHA M. SIMMoNs, citizens of the nited States, residing at Herkimer, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Wicks or Feeders for Lubricators, of which the following is a specifi-- cation.

10 This invention consists in a wick or of metallic 2o nately comes to and passes beneath the surface of the feeder,'so that strands of both kinds are placed in contact with the surface to be lubricated.

The wick may beused in any form of lubricating devicein which such wicks or capillary feeders are employed to carry lubricant, and to deposit. it upon a journal, slide, or like part requiring lubrication. It may be cylindrical, or pressed into other suitable form in cross section.

In theaccompanying drawings the feeder is represented as applied to a car axle box, the construction of which constitutes no part of the'present invention, but is set forth and claimed in a prior application, Serial No. 674,456, filed in our joint names, J anuary 31st, 1912, out of'which this application is divided pursuant to oflicial requirements.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a car axle journal box and journal, with the improved feeder applied; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the wick or feeder in its cylindrical or preferred form.

Referring first to Fig. 2, the wick A will be seen to comprise two sets of strands a and b, the strands a being of a loosely spun or twisted fibrous body, as linen, cotton or woolen yarns or cords, and the strands I) being preferably of copper wire, though wires of other metal or of a suitable alloy, may be employed. In the drawing, the metallic strands arerepresented as comprising a plurality of filaments or fine wires, laid side by side, and preferably not twisted together, though a slight twist is permissible. The several filaments together make up one complete strand-b for the braiding or weaving of the wick.

The manner of forming the wick or feeder may vary, that is to say, the strands may be so braided as to pass from the surface to theinterior of the finished wick or feeder, or successive layers may be braided one about another, as found expedient, the important point being that fibers or nonmetallic strands, and wires or metal strands, shall both come to. the surface, and shall each pass beneath the surface and into the bodv of the wicking.

The fibrous strands a give elasticity and flexibility to the wick or feeder, and being absorbent they take up the oil or other lubricant and hold it, becoming throughly saturated therewith, and consequently becoming capable of giving oif'lubricant for a considerable time, but-in measured or regulated quantity, even after the supply of lubricant in the reservoir from which the feeder receives its charge has been exhausted. The wires or metal strands I) like wise serve, by reason of their proximity to one another and the consequent formationof narrow channels or passages between them,.to effect a feeding of the oil or lubricant, partly by capillary attraction and partly by surface tension. The metal strands serve also the further offices of giving strength and a measure of resilience to the Wick or feeder. They prevent glazing of the surface of the wicking, which is liable to occur if only fibrous strands be employed, and they become moderately heated by contact with the moving journal, slide, or other part to be lubricated, and hence by transmitting the heat to the lubricant impart suiiicient warmth thereto to keep it in a fluid state even in cold weather. These results, as also the requisite flexibility of the feeder, require the use of relatively fine strands of wire, and the employment of a plurality of wires in a group or strand, as above described. 7

In Fig. 1 the feeder is represented as applied to the journal of a car axle. It is carried along theunder side of the brass, bearing block, or saddle B, and lies in the angle formd by the meeting thereof with the journal C. To support and retain thewicking in this position, a bracket D is secured to and extends along the side of the saddle, brass, or bearing block B, the wicking lying beneath the bracket D throughout the major portion of the length of said bracket, and passing outward over supporting lips or lugs formed thereon near each end and dropping thence down into the lubricant.

In'the drawing we have represented the forward ends of the wicks or feeders as extending into a detachable lubricant receptacl'e E, While the rear ends of said feeders are showndipping into the oil or lubricant in the lower part or lubricant reservoir of the journal box F. It is to be understood, however, that thisis'merely illustrative or suggestive, and that the wicking may be employed in any lubricating device to which it is suited, and supported in any convenient manner, the present invention residing in the composite Wick or feeder comprising the metallic and nonmetallic strands intertwined, braided or laced, so that each in turn passes to and then beneath the surface.

By the construction above set forth the glazing of the wicking is prevented, the wear is less rapid, the wicking or feeder is made suliiciently resilient to press constantly against thejournal or other moving part even when the surface or rubbing side wears more or less away, and the same combination of metallic and non-metallic fibers is presented to the moving part until the wicking or feeder is worn away to a point .where it is no longer useful or adequate to the performance of its duties.

Wicks or feeders have heretofore been formed of a bundle of relatively fine Wires incased in a fibrous sheathing, and again of a fibrous core or wick wrapped with wire. ln the one case "only the fibrous strands are exposed or brought into contact with the journal or moving part; in the other, only the metallic wrapping is so brought into rubbing contact with the journal or like part. Under the present construction, however, both metallic and non-metallic strands or fibers are simultaneously and constantly in contact with the moving body or surface, and co-act in supplying lubricant thereto. The wicking is found in practice to give most satisfactory results, and to obviate the difiiculties experienced with feeders of former types.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A wick or feeder for delivering lubricant to a moving part, consisting of a series of metallic wires or strands, and a series of non-metallic yarns or cords intertwined or braided, substantially as described; whereby strands of both characters are caused to pass alternately to the surface and beneath the surface of the wick or feeder.

2. A Wick or feeder for lubricants comprising two main sets of strands, one set composed of lightly spun or twisted fibrous strands, and the other set consisting each of a plurality of relatively fine metal filaments laid side by side in a series or group, said two sets of strands being braided or interlaced so that each passes alternately to the surface and to points beneath the surface of the completed wick or feeder.

3. A wick or feeder composed of a series of concentric layers, each layer consisting of metallic strands and non-metallic strands, interlaced or braided together to form :1 tubular body.

l. A wick or feeder composed of a series of concentric layers, each layercomprising a series of metallic strands and a series of non-metallic strands, the metallic strands consisting each of a plurality of relatively fine metallic filaments laid side by side, and the metallic and non-metallic strands being interlaced or braided, substantially as described. I

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

anon-en r. SIMMONS. BERTH'A M. SIMMONS.

Witnesses I FLORENCE B. BROWN, Gno. WV. SnARLEs.

denies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C." 

